Running with the iPhone
So, Google's GI has entered the field. Walt Mossberg is the man to turn to when this kind of thing happens, and his first impressions are positive. Sure, it has a few interesting features (keyboard), but it looks kinda ugly, doesn't it?
Doubt very much if the wave of creativity unleashed by the iPhone will be matched by the Google thing. I mean, take this example: RunKeeper. Its particular genius is that it takes advantage of the iPhone's GPS capability. So, while you're pounding the road, RunKeeper displays pace, distance and time along with a graph of speed over time. Once you've finished a run, the app automatically uploads the data to runkeeper.com. When you log on, up comes a Google map of the route you ran. How clever! But what about the effects of rain and heat? Not on the runner. On the iPhone! Well, the RunKeeper site has lots of practical tips for dealing with everything from sweat to dust. Would be perfect for Haruki Murakami.
